上世纪五六十年代，即使欧美电视也未普及，更没有互联网，当时主要传媒是报纸和杂志。那时几乎所有的报刊都有一种栏目，就是请专栏作家为读者答疑解惑。中国这类栏目大多会叫“名家答疑” 或 “知心大姐”之类，读者把生活、工作、婚恋等方面遇到的困惑，写信给编辑部，这些信经专栏作家筛选，写出回复，登在报纸上，这样广大读者都可从中借鉴受益。葛优的成名电视剧“编辑部的故事”，讲的是一本叫“人间指南”的杂志，就是此类。
这类栏目英语叫 advice column，写这个栏目的叫 advice columnist 或 advice writer.
美国有一对双胞胎姐妹, 从上世纪五十年代开始先后做 advice columnist，姐妹俩的笔名叫“Ann Landers” 和 “Dear Abby” , 她们的专栏先后发表和转载在全世界1400多家报纸，每天读者一亿多，前后跨越近50年， 曾帮助上千万人摆脱困惑，全世界英文读者几乎无人不晓。纽约时报称，这两个专栏对美国文化的影响，无论怎么评价都不为过。姐妹俩写回复的风格不同，各有特点，并形成竞争。
Dear Abby 的特点是简短、幽默、坚定，并充满同情。
我们来读几篇媒体筛选的 Dear Abby 的精彩回复：
Dear Abby: My boyfriend is going to be 20 years old next month. I'd like to give him something nice for his birthday. What do you think he'd like? —Carol
Dear Carol: Never mind what he'd like, give him a tie.
Dear Abby: Our son married a girl when he was in the service. They were married in February and she had an 8 1/2-pound baby girl in August. She said the baby was premature. Can an 8 1/2-pound baby be this premature? —Wanting to Know
Dear Wanting: The baby was on time. The wedding was late. Forget it.
in the service 服兵役
premature 早产儿
读者署名 “wanting to konw”, 所以 Dear Abby 称呼其 Dear Wanting.
Dear Abby: What's the difference between a wife and a mistress? —Bess
Dear Bess: Night and Day.
mistess 情人
Dear Abby: I've been going steady with this man for six years. We see each other every night. He says he loves me, and I know I love him, but he never mentions marriage. Do you think he's going out with me just for what he can get? —Gertie
Dear Gertie: I don't know. What's he getting?
go steady 正式确定恋爱关系
Dear Abby: I joined the Navy to see the world. I've seen it. Now, how do I get out?
Dear Navy: Simple. Go to your superior officer and say these 2 words: I'm Gay.
the Navy 海军
to see the world 见世面，长见识，
superior officer 上级军官
由于来信者没有署名，Dear Abby 只好称呼他 Dear Navy
(to be continued)
